Epson AcuLaser M2300D review

The Epson AcuLaser M2300 series of mono laser printers is aimed at small businesses with modest printing needs. The entry-level M2300D is stripped to its bare essentials. It’s compact but efficient: a squat, grey and cream square-shaped box measuring a discreet 378x390x255mm (wdh) that still manages to weigh a reassuringly chunky 11.5kg out of the box.

No frillsThe M2300D offers no bells and whistles; just three basic control buttons and half a dozen indicator lights on a thin strip on the top right – no LCD, no USB input for flash cards, no memory slots. The only signs of connectivity round the back apart from the power socket are a USB output and a parallel interface connector (the latter a rather rare and old-fashioned feature these days). Networking is only possible on the DN and DTN models – this is strictly for one-PC operation.

What you do have, however, is a fold-down 50-sheet multipurpose tray and a 250-sheet input tray in the base. If you think you’re likely to have periodically heavier workloads then an optional extra 250-sheet input tray can be added to the bottom. All operations are handled via the basic control software included on the installation disc, and one big plus is the ability to produce automatic duplex copies, thus reducing paper costs.

Fast results, disappointing qualityWhat the M2300D lacks in complexity, it makes up for in speed. Single-page black text documents of both draft and fine quality emerged at a nippy 30ppm – exactly Epson claims on the box. Duplex documents were output in a more than respectable 16ppm. However, the draft documents are so washed-out and anaemic that you really wouldn’t use them for anything other than rough guidelines before tackling a main project. Even the text on the Fine pages appears thin and pale, with some evidence of fracturing on underlining.

Prices for the M2300D start as low as £100 online, and running costs are generally meagre – it uses a low-cost toner with a maximum monthly print volume of 20,000 pages. Even this, though, is unlikely to prove enough of an incentive for those wanting above-average quality printouts.